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1. RTU DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING PAGE 1
Terminologies of Badminton
Alley - Extension of the court by l 1/2 feet on both sides for doubles play.
Back Alley - Area between the back boundary line and the long service line for doubles.
Backcourt - Back third of the court, in the area of the back boundary lines.
Balk - Any deceptive movement that disconcerts an opponent before or during the service;
often called a "feint."
Baseline - Back boundary line at each end of the court, parallel to the net.
Carry - An illegal tactic, also called a sling or throw, in which the shuttle is caught and held
on the racquet and then slung during the execution of a stroke.
Center or Base Position - Location in the center of the court to which a singles player tries
to return after each shot.
Center Line - Line perpendicular to the net that separates the left and right service courts.
Clear - A shot hit deep to the opponent’s back boundary Nine. The high clear is a defensive
shot, while the flatter attacking clear is used offensively.
Court - Area of play, as defined by the outer boundary lines.
Drive - A fast and low shot that makes a horizontal flight over the net.
Drop - A shot hit softly and with finesse to fall rapidly and close to the net on the opponent’s
side.
Fault - A violation of the playing rules, either in serving, receiving, or during play (see
common faults listed below).

2. RTU DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING PAGE 2
Flick - A quick wrist and forearm rotation that surprises an opponent by changing an
apparently soft shot into a faster passing one; used primarily on the serve and at the net.
Forecourt - Front third of the court, between the net and the short service line.
Hairpin Net Shot - Shot made from below and very close to the net with the shuttle rising,
just clearing the net, and then dropping sharply down the other side. The shuttle’s flight
approximates the shape of a hairpin.
Half-court Shot - A shot hit low and to midcourt, used effectively in doubles against the up-
and-back formation.
Kill - Fast, downward shot that cannot be returned; a "put away." Let - A legitimate cessation
of play to allow a rally to be replayed. Long Service Line - In singles, the back boundary
line.1n doubles a line 2 l/2 feet inside the back boundary line. The serve may not go past this
line.
Match - A series of games (at U.S. Olympic Festival-’93 it is three out of five), to determine
a winner. Midcourt - The middle third of the court, halfway between the net and the back
boundary line.
Net Shot - Shot hit from the forecourt that just clears the net and drops sharply.
Push Shot - Gentle shot played by pushing the shuttle with little wrist motion, usually from
net or midcourt to the opponent’s midcourt.
Racquet - Instrument used by player to hit shuttlecock Weight: About 3 ounces. Length: 27
inches. Made of: Ceramic, graphite, or boron frame; beef-gut string. Cost: $60-$175
(unstrung).
Rally - Exchange of shots while the shuttle is in play.
Serve or Service - Stroke used to put shuttlecock into play at the start of each rally.

3. RTU DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING PAGE 3
Service Court - Area into which the serve must be delivered. Different for singles and
doubles play.
Short Service Line - The line 6 l/2 feet from the net which a serve must reach to be legal.
Shuttlecock - Official name for the object that players hit. Also known as "birdie." Weight:
.17-l9 ounces. Made of: 16 goose feathers attached to a cork tip covered with goat skin.
Usually lasts for no more than two games. The heavier the shuttlecock, the faster it flies.
Flies faster in higher temperatures and at higher altitudes.
Smash - Hard-hit overhead shot that forces the shuttle sharply downward. Badminton’s
primary attacking stroke.
Wood Shot - Shot that results when the base of the shuttle is hit by the frame of the racquet.
Once illegal, this shot was ruled acceptable by the International Badminton Federation in
1963.